Thinking about buying a new car? You probably have a make and model in mind, but what is the most popular car colour? In 2013, the most popular car colour was white when for the previous decade, the most popular shade was silver.
PPG Industries, the leading supplier of automotive paints, says 25 percent of the vehicles it supplied in the 2013 model year were white, which is up 3 percent from 2012. Silver and black tied for second, with 18 percent each. In recent years there has been a consolidating back to white which now dominates in Europe, North America and Asia. Only in South America is silver still king.
Jane Harrington, PPG's manager of automotive colour styling says carmakers are currently scouting choices for the 2016 and 2017 model years, and she is showing them options from a pink-tinged bright red developed in Asia to a strong dark grey with faint green highlights.
The changes include eleven different browns - from light copper to dark chocolate - and an equal number of greys are part of PPG's annual colour show for car makers. There are six yellows and seven greens. One notable absence is powder blue which is increasingly confined to electric cars or hybrids.
Harrington and her international team determine colours by watching fashion and architectural paint trends. She thinks there will be more deep tones like teal and more earthy metallics in the coming years: “With the end of the recession, drivers don't mind being showy again.
“Car companies usually choose up to 10 colours for every model and PPG works with them as they think about the vehicle and how that colour will translate to sales success. That colour, sparkle and finish helps define the car's character." Harrington said.
Choose the right colour for a better resale value
According to a 2013 survey in Australia by Autogenie, the most popular car colour for us is white representing 21 per cent of the total sales. The second most popular colour was grey making up 18 per cent followed by black and silver on 17 per cent each. Only 27 per cent of the survey participants would choose a more vibrant colour for their car.
If you’re going to have your car for a long time – or are concerned about the resale value when it comes time to sell, these stats may be worth taking into consideration. It may be best to stick with classic white or the simple colours that most people prefer as these generally have a higher resale value. This may be because white/lighter coloured cars are often perceived as being safer as they are more visible on the road, and have the advantage of being cooler because they reflect the sun’s heat better.
No matter what make, model or colour of car you choose for your next purchase, it pays to have the right financing in place before you start shopping around. Car dealers offer financing, but this isn’t always the wisest choice when it comes to choosing a loan to meet your personal circumstances.
As your mortgage broker, we can offer you the same high level of service over car finance as we do on your home loan – the capacity to choose from a variety of lenders for the best terms and rates to suit your financial situation.
Talk to us today about your new car aspirations, we’ll be happy to help.
